Helm Field

Helm Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield A-7 is a former US Army Airfield use for training during World War II. Helm Field was location in the town of Coalinga, California, 70 miles south of Fresno. Helm Field had two 3,000 foot runways, one oriented east/west and one oriented northwest/southeast. The Airfield was on a 773 acres site of form farm land. The US Army purchased the land on January 11, 1943 for training pilots. The Airfield was used by the Lemoore Basic Flying School, based at the Lemoore Army Air Field. Helm Field was 15 miles northwest of Lemoore Army Air Field. The Army built at Helm Field to support training stage house, control tower, motor pool building, crash truck shelter and latrines. Helm Field was used by Air Corps Basic Flying School, the AAF Basic Flying School, the AAF Pilot School, the 88th Air Base Squadron, the 3023rd Army Air Force Pilot School and the 461st Army Air Force Base Unit. The army closed Helm Field on October 15, 1844 and the Airfield was sold by the War Assets Administration. Helm Field was used as a farm labor camp in the 1950s. The east/west runway was returned to farmland. The northwest/southeast runway was still intact and was used as a civilian airfield till 1971.[1] [2][3][4]

Helm Field
Part of Army Air Force Training Command
Coalinga, California
USGS 1971 photo showing one of the two Helm Field runways
Helm Field AAF
Coordinates36°21′0″N 120°10′26.4″W
TypeArmy Airfield
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built1943
In use1943-1945
Garrison information
GarrisonArmy Air Force Training Command

Lemoore Auxiliary Airfields

To support the Lemoore Basic Flying School, based at Lemoore Army Air Field Auxiliary Airfields and Landing Mats were built around the Lemoore Army Air Field.[5]

Boston Field

Boston Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield (A-1) was located at 36°13′12″N 119°59′20″W near Westhaven, Fresno County, California. After the war the Airfield was abandoned and returned to farmland. Boston Field was 3 miles south/west of Lemoore Army Airfield. The Airfield is listed as Bond Field on some later maps.[6]

Huron Field

Huron Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield (A-2) was located at 36°13′21″N 120°02′22″W, near the City of Huron, California. Huron Field was 7 miles west-southwest of Lemoore Army Airfield. This was a 3,000 by 3,000 foot landing mat. After the war the Airfield was abandoned and returned to farmland.[7]

Indian Field

(for crops see Indian old field)

Indian Field March 13, 1950 USDA aerial photo

Indian Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield (A-3), Indian Auxiliary Landing Field and Indian Auxiliary Field No. 3 was located at 36°07′53″N 120°05′06″W, near the city of Huron, California at the corner of South Siskiyou Avenue and West Jayne Avenue. The 641.60 acres site was native pasture land, the air field was built in 1944. Prior to acquisition, the site was native pasture This was a 3,000 by 3,000 foot landing mat. Indian Field was 13 miles southwest of Lemoore Army Airfield. The land was sold on September 12, 1946 and turned into farmland. The 1950s Indian Field was used as a farm labor camp and the runway was not used. Late the Airfield was abandoned and returned to farmland.[8][9]

Murray Field

Murray Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield (A-4) was located at 36°08′41″N 119°56′00″W, 6 miles southwest of Stratford, California, near the current town of Avenal, California. The 621.76 acres site was purchased in 1941. Murray Field was 14 miles west of Lemoore Army Airfield . This was a 3,000 by 3,000 foot landing mat. After the war the Airfield was abandoned and returned to farmland.[10][11]

Vultee BT-13 Valiant in California, an Army training plane

West Field
"West Field" redirects here. For the airfield on the Mariana Islands, see West Field (Tinian).

West Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield (A-5) was located at 36°15′45″N 120°12′06″W, near Huron, California. This was a 3,000 by 3,000 foot landing mat on 522.32 acres. West Field was 14 miles west of Lemoore Army Airfield. The Army purchased the farmland on 4 February 1943. After the war the Airfield was abandoned and returned to farmland, that land was sold off on 12 September 1947.[12][13]

Other Lemoore Auxiliary Fields

See also

References
  1. militarymuseum.org, Helm Field
  2. airfields-freeman.com, Helm Field
  3. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers, May 1944
  4. A Study of the Aeronautical Status of California, May 1947
  5. militarymuseum.org, Lemoore Lemoore Army Air Field
  6. airfields-freeman.com, Boston Field-Bond Field
  7. United States Official Postal Guide, Page 981, July 1942
  8. airfields-freeman.com, Indian Field
  9. militarymuseum.org, Indian Field
  10. airfields-freeman.com, Murray Field
  11. militarymuseum.org Murray Field
  12. Investigation, Disposition of Surplus Property: Hearings Before the Select, By United States. Congress. House. Select Committee to Investigate Disposition of Surplus Property, page 3468, July 3, 1946
  13. militarymuseum.org West Field
  14. Coalinga airfields-freeman.com, Municipal Airport
  15. militarymuseum.org, Corcoran Municipal Airport
  16. militarymuseum.org Summit Lake Field

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
  • Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
  • Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: California: Southwestern Fresno area
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